Encouragement for Every Exhausted, Impatient Mama

  

I lift my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

She glanced over at me, bouncing a toddler on my hip, and said, “You must be so patient.” I raised my eyebrows as a little boy ran a Tonka truck over my foot. We stood on the nursery playground together during the morning church service.

I laughed. Ummm…no, I thought. Not so patient.

Do you find yourself wondering where other mamas get the energy and patience to keep going every day? You watch them in wonder, seemingly perfect in their wrinkle-free dress, flyaway-free hair fixed just right? There you stand with your own shoes, slightly scuffed from the toddler standing on them earlier. You’re a few flyaway hairs short of a scarecrow and is that a Cheerio on the back of your neck? You’re here, though. You showed up.

And then someone comments on how tired you look.

Thanks, pal.

This verse from Psalm 121, reminding me where my help comes from is my lifeline to sanity. Years ago, I jotted the verse on a 3×5 card and taped it to my bathroom mirror where it still is, water droplets and all. Every morning, I read it before going outside, lifting my eyes to the mountains farmlands, and reminding the Lord my help comes from him. (Just in case he forgets.)

Honestly, there are days I’d rather throw a tantrum if it meant someone would actually listen to me than patiently and deeply breathe before asking the Lord for help. But raising our voices and a ruckus doesn’t solve anything, so choosing patience and peacefulness is usually the best response.

Patience isn’t something we acquire overnight. It’s years of taking opportunities of trials and turning them into tender moments. All those times your kid writes on the wall or scratches your brand new van with a rock or spills their glass of milk for the umpteenth time are all opportunities to grow in patience.

We can react in anger or respond in love.

Choose the latter, my friend.

And the only way we can do that is with the Lord’s help. So on those days when frustration abounds and you’re at your wit’s end, lift your eyes to the mountains (or the skies) from where our help comes from. Our help comes from the Lord, maker of Heaven and earth.

farmwyfe.com

 encouragement for every tired mama 

23 comments

    • Amanda Wells says:

      It does take practice. Since we had our first daughter ten years ago, I’ve seen both my husband and I grow in patience but obviously, that means LOTS of opportunities to practice. We fell short many times but I’m so thankful for forgiveness! Thank you.

  1. Lisa Benavidez says:

    ONLY with God am I able to be a mostly patient mother. But there are days I’m extra tired and not so slow to anger…Lord be with me and give me grace. I love my babies and mama needs a nap!! 🙂 Thanks for this reminder!!

  2. Meg says:

    What a beautiful scripture to start the day with every day! And, yes, it’s so easy to look around at all the other moms who seem to have it together and criticize ourselves. But the truth is we all have good moments and bad moments, strengths and weaknesses, but through the Lord we can be forgiven of our failings and become more than we have strength to be on our own. Thanks for the reminder.

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